Walk Properly Toward Those Who Are Outside

By Dr. Benjamin George


Car stickers have become popular. Some are funny, some serious and some are business ads. Christians too have joined the bandwagon. They put up stickers like: ‘Jesus loves you’, ‘Praise the Lord’, ‘If you don’t trust the driver, trust in God’ or whatever! Normally I do not like to put any stickers other than identification ones. Putting up religious car stickers often does not help to promote one’s religion. Some religious stuff may even offend others or even antagonise them!

One of the more serious problems with ‘Christian car stickers’ is that unless the driver is polite and courteous, he will give the public the wrong impression about Christianity. If you put up a sticker, “Smile! Jesus loves you!’ or ‘love is patient’, and drive around like a dangerous, discourteous, mad freak, who will be impressed by your sticker?

The apostle Paul made this passionate plea to the believers at Thessalonica, “that you may walk properly toward those who are outside”. They were pagan idolaters who lived in wickedness without knowing a Holy God. Now they were converted to Christ. They were to follow Him and imitate His life. They were to set an example to the people around them. Before the believers, at home to their dear ones, in the workplace and in public they were to walk properly!

I remember advising a believer and a church leader some time ago, “You must be careful not to shout too loudly to your children. You must consider what your non-Christian neighbours will think of Christians!” We want all our family and friends to come to Christ and be saved. But they will not be attracted to Christ unless they are impressed by our conduct.

Have you heard people commenting, ‘so and so is a saint in the church but a devil at home?’ Unfortunately, it is true of many of us. Christian husbands and wives get angry at little things and shout at each other. Sisters, even those who are active in ministry snub their husbands and keep nagging them. Parents yell and shout at their children and call them names. Children who attend church and Sunday school turn out to be disobedient and rebellious to their parents and teachers! What kind of Christianity is ours? What testimony do you and I have before the world? Let us be careful how we walk?

For the believers at Colosse, and the other churches in Asia, Paul never stopped to pray to God that “they will live a life that honors the Lord, and they will always please him by doing good deeds” (Col 1.10). Dear believer, you should keep praying this prayer everyday for yourself and for your fellow-believers. The apostle Paul urged, “that you may walk properly toward those who are outside”. Others are watching! And of course, don’t forget, so is God!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to walk worthy of Your name. Let me imitate You and behave properly before my family, friends and outsiders. Amen.


BIBLE READING FOR TODAY 1 THESSALONIANS 4 GW

1 Now then, brothers and sisters, because of the Lord Jesus we ask and encourage you to excel in living a God-pleasing life even more than you already do. Do this the way we taught you.
2 You know what orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 It is God's will that you keep away from sexual sin as a mark of your devotion to him.
4 Each of you should know that finding a husband or wife for yourself is to be done in a holy and honorable way,
5 not in the passionate, lustful way of people who don't know God.
6 No one should take advantage of or exploit other believers that way. The Lord is the one who punishes people for all these things. We've already told you and warned you about this.
7 God didn't call us to be sexually immoral but to be holy.
8 Therefore, whoever rejects this order is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9 You don't need anyone to write to you about the way Christians should love each other. God has taught you to love each other.
10 In fact, you are showing love to all the Christians throughout the province of Macedonia. We encourage you as believers to excel in love even more.
11 Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered you.
12 Then your way of life will win respect from those outside the church, and you won't have to depend on anyone else for what you need.